Wonder where this will end up going. Apparently they've discovered that bee venom can kill HIV and are going to try making preventative products like vaginal gel. How do you guys feel about this, as vegans? Killing HIV is great! Testing on bees is not! Using bee products is obviously not vegan, but if it could prevent HIV? I feel like I would have no qualms using the treatment if I already had HIV (because it's better than dying), but what about the preventative stuff? It's a much bigger deal than just not using lip balm with beeswax in it, I think.

Considering that many people are raped and become infected with HIV and there are around 35 million people in the world with AIDS, I say this is good news. Also, you can easily replicate something once you know it can be used as a treatment so I doubt bees would be used in the end as the source for medicine. I've watched someone die from AIDS, it is a slow painful death and I'm glad there is so much research being done to help people. I just hope any medicine developed would reach those that are affected the most, the poor.

_________________You are all a disgrace to vegans. Go f*ck yourselves, especially linanil.

Bees are amazing! My immediate thought was that this could be a breakthrough in parts of the world where many people contract HIV through rape. I don't think I could feel comfortable denying them a way to protect themselves?

Preventative vaginal gel immediately linked to consensual sex in my brain, as in using it like someone might use spermicidal gel with a diaphragm. Of course, if it's going to help those who need it in areas where HIV and rape are happening a lot then that's great. Even better if the medicine can be synthesized.

Probably they will try to figure out what part of bee venom is anti-viral, and then synthesize it. I can't imagine being able to commercially/pharmaceutically "milk" bees for venom. I mean, its not like you would have a hive that you would tap for bee venom on your junk after sex. OUCH.

_________________Evolved a vascular system, so I went from bryophyte to lycophyte.

I dunno, I feel like bees are having a hard enough time staying alive! And we kind of depend on them for OUR survival, what with pollination and all, so...

_________________Did you notice the slight feeling of panic at the words "Chicken Basin Street"? Like someone was walking over your grave? Try not to remember. We must never remember. - mumblesIs this about devilberries and nazifruit again? - footface